Giveaway - Smarti Dipe

Julia at Sweet As Punkin Pie has a giveaway for a SMARTI Cloth Diapers. This looks like a fantastic cloth diaper and it's low cost too. I hope to get a chance to try it.

Trying to Upgrade my Blog

It's easy to write, but sometimes discouraging to blog because so many bloggers have such beautiful website designs. Mine is just plain website. So Over at the Giveaway Today Blog they are having a giveaway for a blog design. I signed up because I would love to have a fresh design - something with diapers.

Wish me luck and go enter by clicking the button above.

Kellys Closet - Free Shipping on $35 order

If you are new to cloth diapers, Kelly's Closet is a great resource as each diaper is clearly shown and Kelly lets you know which diapers need covers with the small blue diaper "needs cover" picture on the fitted diapers pages. In addition, I love reading about other Mom's experiences with cloth diapers in the Diaper Whisperer Blog.

Today and tomorrow (May 20th and 21st), get free shipping on all orders $35 or more at Kelly's Closet. Usually free shipping is at $99 Use code: FACEMAY at checkout. I ordered a Bum Genius two pack since everyone seems to love the Bum Genius diapers for overnight wear. So I figured I better build our stash up as we have a long way to go with diapers.

Shipping from Kelly's Closet is pretty fast and you will have your diaps in no time.

Hubby is going away again

Jon is leaving on Tuesday for another sales trip. It breaks my heart when he leaves. Of course I am not telling him this because the trip is important and it allows me to stay home with the baby, but I would rather work and have him with me. It's quiet lonely here when he is gone.

AppleCheeks Diapers - I'm dying to try ya!

AppleCheeks diapers are unique in that they can be used either as a pocket diaper with an insert stuffed inside, or as a cover with the insert folded and laid on top. The opening for the pocket is "envelope" style--instead of opening at the back end of the diaper, AppleCheeks open across the middle, creating an extra wide opening that is super easy to stuff.

I AM DYING TO TRY THIS DAZZLING DIAPER!


Our Lincoln Log Blog is having a giveaway for an Applecheeks diaper and inserts. Yes, you should go and enter to win it for me! :)

MomBuzz is also doing a giveaway for the AppleCheeks diaper and inserts.

Cloth Diaper Giveaway - Win a Muttaqin

This is a brand new, never used fitted diaper from Muttaquin. It fits most babies from 8-35 lbs.

This diaper is made from an outer layer of interlock knit and velour (seemed in the middle), a hidden layer of cotton interlock and an inner layer of bamboo cotton velour.

The quick-drying tri-fold snap in soaker is is made from organic cotton/hemp fleece topped in matching velour.

*It is a girly flower print in the center. The snaps are also a bit more of a minty color than the pic shows.

Muttaquin diapers are so soft. You will need to use a cover with this fitted diaper.

How to enter? Just leave a message on this post telling your favorite nightime cloth diaper. If you have never used cloth diapers, just say why you want to use them.

If you want extra entries:

- Follow this blog and comment that you did. (2 entries)

- Add this blog to your reader& then comment (2 entries)

- Comment on any other blog posts & then comment here (2 entries)

- Tweet this & come then leave a comment: Win a Muttaqin Cloth Diaper @dazzledbydiaper blog http://is.gd/B6yG (2 entries)

- Blog about the giveaway & leave a message here (4 entries)

Ends May 24th at midnight.

Funny Mom

If you are looking for a good laugh, check out Word to Your Mother, Mindi.

I couldn't stop laughing as I looked through the writing, pics and videos on her site.

My Poor Husband

I'm glad my husband is home, but I need to be better to him. I wasn't kicking him in the head here. He was saying that I couldn't kick over his head any more now (I could before I was pregnant). So of course I told him I could and proved it. Please ignore my muffin top peaking falling out over the jeans.

Giveaway - Laundry System

I like these laundry balls and Beautiful to God Blog (isn't that a great name) is having a giveaway for a complete laundry system that will work for three years!

Win a custom blog theme!

So I have a blog and I would love a cute header with a baby in a colorful diaper. Mommy's Idea Blog is having a giveaway of a blog makeover by Christin of SweetPeaDesignStudio.com A custom blog theme is a perfect prize. The contest ends May 19th.

Children's Book Giveaway

The Mommy Files is giving away three copies of The Elephant Story by Harriet Blackford and Manja Stojic. Go and enter!

Virtual Baby Shower for BaBy Wade- You're Invited

Wade was born early so Click the button and come join in the fun. Many giveaways and who doesn't love a giveaway?

Praise the Lord

I never have actually written or been a witness to the Lord. I mean, I pray to God and we go to church, but I keep it to myself. I don't speak about the Lord, but I do want to let others know how the Lord continued to reach out to me even when I continued to turn away from Him and I continued to do wrong.

When I left my family to come to NY, I got involved with the wrong people. Life in Manhattan involved parties several nights a week. I smoked and inhaled so many drugs. There's so much money and access to drugs was as easy as access to soda or candy. After partying a few months, my body was feeling different. I told myself that I had to stop or at least calm down a bit, but I didn't because my addiction to the high was getting stronger.

One night after partying, I took a cab back to the apartment I shared with two friends. I could hardly see and by the time I got inside, I was puking my brains out. I went into the bathroom and I fell. My head hit the tub and as I continued to fall, I said Lord save me. I don't know if the words came out or if I said them on the inside. The following day I woke up in the hospital with wires hooked up around me. The doctor came and spoke to me about my drug use. I was embarrassed and humiliated. He said the word "drug addict." I didn't hear anything after that word. All I could think is How did I become a drug addict? A DRUG ADDICT.....the words echoed through the room...and through my soul. How could this have happened? How could I let it happen?

After he left the room, again I whispered to God, please save me. I knew I didn't want to be a drug addict, but I also knew the lure of the drugs and my addiction was getting stronger. Later that day, I was released and the first thing I did was quit my job. I couldn't be around those people and I felt that God was leading me away from them. I took several temp jobs and then finally found a permanent position at a new company. I wasn't around the drugs and although I craved them, I continued to pray to God to save me. My family was in Virginia and I had lost contact with them most of that year. I didn't go home for Christmas because I was ashamed of who I became. No one deserved to be related to a drug addict. I didn't want them to see me in the current state.

About four months later, I stepped into St. Patrick's in NYC on May 16, 2004 because I felt God was calling me there. While I sat in the church, I felt God's presence and I knew the drug addiction was over. I am grateful to God for continuing to pursue me while I pursued poison and evil. It's May 16th - Praise God! I try to spend the day in prayer hoping that God will save another drug addict whose just on the verge as I was.

Shi Shu Blanket Giveaway

Piece of Me ~ Making my American Dream Blog has an incredible giveaway right now. The giveaway is for this gorgeous to die for Shi Shu blanket. I love that the blanket is made of natural fibers, is breatheable and is antibacterial. I love the beautiful colors of the blanket as well. So head over to Piece of Me's blog and see her cute daughter, Princess P and the Shi Shu blanket. Then enter the giveaway and if you win, please send it to me because we're best friends, okay?

Giveaway ends May 19th.

Win a Rocky Mountain Cloth Diaper!

Mama Notes is giving away a Rocky Mountain Diaper!

I've heard of Rocky Mountain Cloth Diapers, but I haven't tried them yet. I want to! I've seen the adjustable leg, but I wasn't sure if I was able to adjust it well and if it really held. Go enter.

Great Friday!

It was wonderful to have my husband back yesterday! When Jon got home, I couldn't stop kissing him. I never told him how lonely he was because right now only he is working and I am so greatful that he wants me to stay home with out son. We put the baby to bed and had time alone.

I'm glad the weekend is here and we can spend time together. I have to go to the mall and get some summer clothes for all of us this weekend.

Invited a Neighbor to Go Walking & Over for Coffee

Yesterday, I read about Amanda from Proud Mommy of Four who attends storytime with her children and then has lunch with friends and their children weekly. Something clicked in me that I need to get out and do some things with other Moms.

We moved to Brooklyn from Manhattan and things are a lot slower paced here. I stopped working and I don't get to interact with my old friends from work. I don't know my neighbors and most don't seem like they want to know me. Isn't that terrible? I mean, I say hello and they sort of nod, but that's it.

So I like to exercise everyday and powerwalk with the baby in the stroller. Today, I invited another Mom who lives two blocks down the block. I noticed her with her stroller and just asked her if she was heading down to the shore. She nearly jumped at me and was like "let's go." Her name is Mona and she has a 9 month old daughter. She's a year younger and also a Manhattan transplant. Mona told me that she sees me everyday and meant to say hello, but that I passed her too fast. Anyway, she said that she would love to go a few times a mornings a week. After our walk, I invited her and her cute baby upstairs. It was nice to sit and have coffee.

Not feeling so lonely today! :) And I won a Planet Wise wetbag from Proud Mommy of Four blog.....so it was a great day.

Lonely Days

My husband will be back on Thursday, but man have these days been so hard on me. Physically, I'm fine, but emotionally I feel lonely and alone. I'm a Mom and I didn't think I would feel this way anymore.

My family lives in Virginia and I really missed them after seeing them on Skype on Sunday. Everyone was having such a good time and although it was fun to skype, it left me feeling very empty and alone......Alone is the keyword here.

I've been thinking about going back to work. Jon wants me to stay home, but I miss my old life this week.

Wanna Win a Hot Thermometer?

The Exergen TemporalScanner is an infrared thermometer and will read your child's temperature in two seconds! If you want to win it like I do, head over to The Mommy Files.

Lonely on Mother's Day

My hubby is away on a business trip and it was my first Mother's Day. I know he had to go on the trip, but part of me is resentful because I wanted him to be here.

It's hard staying with the baby all day and then not having John here to talk with and hold me at night.

So Happy First Mother's Day to me. I'm so pathetic tonight. Ugh.

Happy Mother's Day! Six Ways I am like my mother

I am more like my mother than I care to admit.

Here's the six ways I am like my mother:

1. I love my husband passionately.
2. I love being a Mom even though it is a lot more work.
3. I love cooking and don't mind cleaning. Isn't that crazy? I thought so years ago.
4. I care about my appearence and exercise regularly. My Mom is 50 years old and looks great.
5. I love saving money and using coupons just like she did.

My Mom lives in Virginia and even though I won't see her this Mother's Day, I sent her a package and I'll call her tomorrow.

The Good Mama is having a sale

Everyone seems to love The Good Mama's Cloth diapers - they are thought of as the Mercedes fo cloth diapers. Even the resale value on these diapers is pretty high because she only makes a limited number of these super cute diapers.

They are expensive and this weekend they are having a sale $30 off $100. But if you go over $100 you get free shipping.

Edit: When hubs called and said he wasn't going to be here and he said I could get some Good Mama's for a Mother's Day gift if that's what I really wanted. I DO! Yep I dazzled by these diapers!

Urban Fluff diapers caught my eyes today. I was surprised to see such cute sock monkey patterns in their Deluxe Fluff line. They look super soft and are an All in One diaper that I must try! The diaper soaker is made of 3 layers of thirsty ultra-fine waffle-weave microfiber toweling, plus an absorbent body layer of of ultra-fine waffle weave microfiber to help prevent wicking.

Plus Urban Fluff sells their old patters on ebay

Urban Fluff opens June 6th - the company used to be called Just Ducky Baby.

Lonely Weekend

My husband is away for a convention this weekend so it's just me and my little man. And I thought I would work on my blog, as well as try to get started on Twitter as my neighbor really likes it.

I also have be interested in Sustainable Baby Organic Bamboo Fleece Fitted. They are on sale at Sustainable Baby and I think there is a coupon from the Diaper Hunt too. The sale for them is $26 each (down from $32) and a wool cover would be needed at night. They have the natural colored hemp diapers for $21.00. I haven't seen them lower anywhere else. So they aren't entirely leak proof, but I like the material and colors. Is that good enough....no not for this budget conscious Mom. But what about that the owner, Erin teamed up with a company called Trees for the Future to have a tree planted in Southeast Asia each time a person purchased a diaper? Does that do it for you? I think it does for me. I keep coming back to these diapers because of the organic material and the beautiful colors.

I really like the look of this diaper and the company's goal.

Fuzzibunz

I know Fuzzibunz seems to be Bum Genius' competition, but when I purchased my original stash, I wasn't sure which one I needed - they had a Perfect size and another type. I also wasn't sure how to do the inserts. I think I felt a bit threatened by these little diapers. Look they lined up like an army - all in solid colors and not so inviting. Look:





So what if I was scared of the little diapers? I was scared of the poop too!

Then Fuzzibunz came out with the One Sized diaper and I looked at them again. Many Moms wrote about their excellent absorbency. Yet, I still didn't purchase one and I don't know why.
So now I see that the Soft Cloth Bunz shop has a special for 3 Fuzzibunz diapers plus 6 inserts and shipping for $53.75 This looks like a great deal and you know I love my deals, but I haven't jumped on it and I don't know why.

My husband will be away for the weekend so maybe I will order when I am lonely.

Am I missing out that I haven't tried a Fuzzibunz?

RumpaRooz - I couldn't keep away!

Hello Gorgeous!

This is Rumparooz Jack Pattern. WOW! Can a cloth diaper be considered beautiful? I think so! It looks like a corset!

Now that the Great Diaper Hunt has begun, I can't stop looking at the Rumparooz Diapers. For those of you who don't know what the Great Diaper Hunt it, head over to http://www.diaperdecisions.com/ and sign up to hunt for a little owl through some shops which sell cloth diapers. You may even win some cloth diapers!

So today I caved in and I purchased the four little Rumparooz above for our little Roo! Now you have to realize these diapers lured me in because of their beauty and because the Cloth Diaper Hunt gives me a code too. Look at them!

I also purchased a wetbag because the free shipping over $100 made it a deal to do so. I needed another webbag too!

Oh and Happy Cinco de Mayo!

My Initial Stash

I really wasn't sure if I wanted to use cloth diapers when I first started researching. I don't have any friends and I hadn't even seen or touched a cloth diaper. Yet, I was intrigued by them so I bought two from Amazon.com to see what they were like. I thought it was cool that I could just buy a set of diapers from Amazon. You can even get sets of well known diapers like Bum Genius there.


After the diapers came, one Bum Genius and one Thirsties set (diaper and cover), I knew I wanted to use cloth diapers. They soft and the material was perfect for the baby on the way!

Then I started to get confident and found some shops. I really like Kelly's Closet because she stocks a lot of different types and usually has a free shipping or discount code. When my order came from Kelly's it was wrapped well and shipped very fast. I think Kelly's Closet is a great website for someone who is just starting out because it has a lot of necessary information presented in a friendly manner. The pictures are plentiful and easy to see as well.

Another great site for cloth diapers is Diaper Swappers. I wasn't able to get anything from there when I first started my stash because I was working and the Moms would bid and buy items very fast.

gDiapers - Another Diaper Alternative

I was intrigued when I heard about the gDiaper System. It's for us Green & Crunchy Moms. The people at the gDiaper Company created a two piece system. Basically, it's a diaper cover with a inner material which breaks down easily. I like the shape they take when you stuff them with the insert. Plus, the diaper covers are cute too! Another bonus is that Toys R Us is selling them.

It's like a cross between cloth and disposable diapers. I was intrigued, but my money conscious side didn't want to pay to have the whole system and for it not to work. So I bought a small set for $20 from ebay.com. It even included the stick to swizzle in the toilet (EEEWWW). See I'm that not crunchy yet! But it doesn't matter because I can throw the gDiaper insert out in the garbage and it will break down.

When it gets here and I've had a chance to evaluate it, I'll let ya know what I think! And if I don't like the inner part of the gDiaper, I'll go here and get some inserts for it! Look how cute!

Wahmies - One Size Cloth Diapers

Besides Wahmies Diapers being one size and looking very cute, there was a deal on a few sites for a free Wahmies wetbag with the purchase of a wahmies diaper (plus free shipping) so I decided we should try one.

When I received the diaper and wetbag, I was a little taken back. The hooks on the diaper are similiar to what's on a bra. They are fine to do during the day, but a little much for at night. And I thought they might be a bit too much for my husband too as he is used to the snaps and velcro. I stuffed it with a Wahmies insert and thought that the Wahmies diaper had a nice feel.

I'm kind of glad we only tried one because it leaked. EWWW! I haven't had any of the other cloth diapers leak so I was a bit surprised. Now maybe I didn't do something in connecting it right or maybe our baby doesn't have chubby legs. So after washing it, the Wahmies are at the end of my stash and I am thinking of trying it one more time or trading it.

Bargain Sites Online - Drybees Organic Diaps

If you are looking for quality deals for baby and Mama online, I highly recommend taking a daily stop at Baby Steals and Mama Bargains. Each Day these two sites offer Moms a chance to get a deal one one item until it sells out. Baby Steals updates Monday to Friday at 9:00 MST (mountain standard time), while MamaBargains does it randomly.


BabySteals seems to sell out inventory fast. When I have been able to get in on a deal from Baby Steals, it ships very fast. The last deal I got was on DryBees Gone Natural Bamboo Diapers (2 for $24) - they are incredible cloth diapers that are usually $20 each. If you miss a deal on Baby Steals, don't worry, the items do return at a later date!

Mamabargains has an equal amount of great deals, but their shipping is slower. The thing I like about Mamabargains is that they have a larger inventory of items and they also change the deals faster.

They sell the items reduced at 50% or more off the cost. I picked up some sleepers by Grobags, some fancy bibs, a changing pad and a stroller cover. Good luck in getting your deals.

Overstock.com is also a great site to find good deals on diaper bags.

Happy April Fools (but these sites aren't a joke)

My hair

What happened to the gorgeous hair I had? All of the great vitamins made my hair gorgeous while I was pregnant, but it's stressful to see that beautiful hair lose it's luster and fullness.

Ahhh well....the body is coming back at least.

SposaEasy really are easy!

After I decided I wanted to cloth diaper our baby, I had to figure out how my hubby would feel about it. We hadn't talked about it and I know he was scared about being a new Dad, so I didn't want to add any more worry to his list of worries (sleep schedule, bills, child care, keeping the baby alive, etc.) I didn't know how my hubby would feel about cloth diapering so I knew I had to find something that was easy as disposable diapers.

Then I found SposaEasy Diapers. They are an All in One (AIO) meaning you don't need a cover and they are made really well. So I bought twelve of them to get us started. Weeks before the baby was born, I introduced the diaper to Daddy and he loved it. He thought it was economical and he saw how environmentally friendly they were. After feeling the diaper, he felt like it was even better than a plastic disposable. And that's how easy it was to get Daddy onboard!

SposaEasy boasts a total of 6 layers: 4 layers of quality 100% cotton terry and 2 layers of 100% cotton flannel smartly sewn so that it has a good amount of absorbency yet is trim and not bulky.

I was very pleased with this purchase and how strong they are.

Bum Genius 3.0 - WOW

I ordered a few cloth diapers to see what they feel like and how they work. When I got the Bum Genius 3.0 Diapers, I have to say that I was very surprised and delighted at how well they are made.


Look at the inside - it's so soft and plush!



I look forward to getting a few of the new Bum Genius 3.0 Spring Colors.

I am a new Mom who just started researching cloth diapers one day. That's when the obsession started! Which are the best cloth diapers for a newborn baby? Which are the best cloth diapers for the environment? Which are the best cloth diapers at night? And then it became which are the best and cutest?

I never planned to use cloth diapers, but once I started researching it was the only thing that made sense. At first, I thought cloth diapering would be more work and gross, but I have been very happy with my choice. Besides being good for the earth, I know what natural products are on my child and cloth diapers are suppose to cause less diaper rash.

I didn't start out as a Green and Crunchy Mom, but I became one as I became a Mom. I don't want to be part of the problem, I want to be part of the solution. I want my child to know that we are global citizens in the world and we need to do our part.

Getting Started

I am a new Mom and I'm home from work taking care of our new baby. We are using cloth diapers and since I didn't know anyone who used cloth diapers when I started, I thought I would make a blog to chart our usage and what future purchases we make to build the stash.

I don't know how much I will update as I am new too this and having a baby is a lot more work than it looks like. So wear with me and come along for the ride. And please offer advice, I don't have any older women in my family to offer any.

Happy Valentine's Day!